Father Goose Page #7

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And I brush my teeth every

morning and every night.

And if I don't have

a toothbrush...

- I use my finger.

- Mmm...

Oh.

- I feel so numb.

- Numb? Where?

Everywhere. What does it mean?

Oh. You'd better lie down.

And I'm so cold. Oh,

why am I so cold?

- Oh, I'm dizzy. I'm very dizzy.

- You lie down. Just rest.

- Oh...

- That's right.

Come closer so I can

tell you something.

My coconut is empty.

Oh.

- Have a belt yourself.

- Oh... No, thanks.

There'll be plenty of time later.

I mean, you go ahead.

- What was she like?

- She? Who?

The lady who drove you to this.

Drove me to what?

Drink.

- Oh, there was no lady.

- That was your wife.

No. There was no wife.

Then from what are you

running away from?

- Mmm?

- Oh, I'm not running away.

- Oh, there must have been some...

- Well, there was.

- A necktie.

- A what?

A necktie.

I was late for class

one morning.

I forgot my tie and they

wouldn't let me in.

How long ago was that?

- About eight years ago.

- Weren't you old to be going to school?

Oh, I wasn't going. Well...

I was teaching.

- Oh!

- I was a professor of history.

And what about the necktie?

- This is no time to talk about me now.

- Why not?

Why not?

Well, ah...

See, I thought they'd be

more interested in

what was inside a man's

head, not around his neck.

Uh, huh.

Then I noticed they

all wore ties.

They all looked alike,

they all behaved alike,

and they all talked alike.

But they were all going

the same way,

no matter which way they

said they were going.

So, what was the use of teaching

them history, or anything?

They weren't learning by it.

Still creating the

same old problems.

So I packed, got on a boat,

and got away from them.

Now look what they've

got me doing.

Ah-ha... What's so funny?

You're the school teacher.

Oh dear.

- What's that?

- The snake.

- But that's not a snake.

- It looks like a snake.

You ninny.

- You'd better tell Mr Eckland.

- I wanna go home.

- He'll be furious.

- Why?

Because Miss Freneau's not dead.

O'la!

This is Eckland.

Is Houghton there?

I'm here, Walter.

Frank... It's all over, Frank.

She's...

I'm sorry.

Yeah.

What do I do about the kids, Frank?

They don't know yet.

They'll have to be told, Walter.

Yeah. Stick around, will you?

I may need you later.

Sure, sure. I'll stand by.

- Mr Eckland?

- Oh, oh... Just a minute. I...

Er... Will you all come

over here, please?

- Mr Eckland?

- Please.

- There's something I want to tell you.

- There's something we want to tell you.

Just a minute, now. This

isn't going to be easy.

Now, er...

Those of you who are old enough to

understand what I'm going to say

will be able to help the ones who...

Well...

- Mr Eckland?

- Please, there's a good girl.

Now, Miss Freneau, who I guess we all

gave a very difficult time to when she...

Well...

Miss Freneau has...

has gone away.

No, she hasn't. You

tell him, Anne.

- Why me?

- Because it was all your fault.

Er... Just a minute.

Tell me what?

It wasn't a snake. It was this.

- But that's not a snake.

- It looks like a snake.

That's not a snake.

Here. Watch out for the thorns.

Uh! Thank you.

- Not a snake.

- It looks like a snake.

No, that doesn't.

This looks like a snake.

Is it morning already?

Walter? Are you there, Walter?

I have the chaplain. I thought it might

be a comfort if he said a few words.

Never mind the chaplain, Frank.

She's alive.

The snake's dead.

Walter, explain yourself.

Walter?

Walter?

WALTER!

Were you really a

schoolteacher?

All of you, raise

your right hands.

Come on, raise your right hands!

All right. Now none of you heard

anything I said in there, you got that?

OK. Now spit.

Go ahead, spit.

The first one who breaks

the pledge will get warts.

Qu'est que c'est, warts?

Er... Mr Eckland?

- May I speak with you, please?

- No.

You don't have to shout.

I don't even have to talk.

Um...

Mr Eckland, do I...

owe you an apology or a...

an explanation or

anything like that?

Probably. Some other time.

I seem to remember someone

saying that a drop or two helps.

- Not today!

- Ooh!

I went through enough nonsense

with you just to get this much.

Mr Eckland. What exactly

did I do yesterday?

Nothing.

You just put a flower

between your teeth

danced around

the room naked.

But I couldn't have!

I did?

You mean you don't remember?

- No.

- Oh.

You don't remember

anything I said, do you?

- Why? What did you say?

- Nothing.

Well, there doesn't seem to be much

to remember then, does there?

No, no, no, no.

Unless you mean

what you said about

running away from civilisation

because of a necktie.

I thought you said you

didn't remember anything!

- Oh, nothing after that.

- There wasn't anything after that.

Then when did I

dance around naked with a

flower between my teeth?

I only told you those things about

me in strictest confidence.

Why, I haven't told anyone!

You just told me, didn't you?

You are the one who told me.

Well, I don't care. I only told you

because I thought you were dying.

Sorry I disappointed you.

I don't mind that you

were a schoolteacher.

There you go again! Now

it's none of your business.

I thought you were running away from

something much worse than that.

I wasn't running away,

I was escaping...

from hypocrites like you, who have

to get drunk before they can let go.

There.

Why then, you're a happy man.

That's right.

And that's why you drink so

much, because you're so happy.

Yes.

- Is this boat tilted?

- No!

Now you listen to me.

Before you mess

around with other

people's lives, you better

take a look at your own.

And what's wrong with it?

Well, maybe if you stopped straightening

pictures and let men wear their pants,

maybe they'd be able to touch

you without asking permesso.

- Dear Lord.

- It's Dominique's turn to say grace.

[ Speaks French ]

[ Speaks French ]

Amen.

Oh. Mr Eckland.

Oh, um... I thought if you

had enough food, I...

- Well, certainly.

- Look, he's combed his hair.

And he's actually wearing socks.

Well, you see, my

feet were chilly.

Oh... um... we're

delighted you could come.

Um, Anne, move over next to Elizabeth

so Mr Eckland can sit down.

- I don't want to sit there.

- She never wants to do anything.

- That's not true. I wanna go home.

- All right. Change places with Harriet.

- The name's Harri.

- Oh, sorry. Harri.

On the other side of Mr Eckland.

Thank you, Harri. We fellows

should stick together.

Pass to Monsieur Eckland.

That's my dinner.

Well, then, take it.

- I'm sick and tired of tinned beef.

- Then give it back.

I wanna go home. Why can't we

have fish once in a while?

Professor Eckland was giving me lessons,

but he never finishes what he starts.

Raise your arms.

Lower your head.

Drink something. Give him

something to drink. Quick.

- Drink.

- Hold it.

Jenny!

- Well, how strange!

- Why?

- That you bring me this.

- I've done it before.

- No, you haven't. Yes, I have.

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